Two-way film-metering device



Feb. 24, 1953 R E, KESEL ETAL 2,629,563

TWO-WAY FILM-METERING DEVICE Filed' April 4, 1951 s sheets-sheet 1 l2 F1 G 2 2 I l/ I i?? 'nf-#$72 7 ROBERT E. KESEL HERBEIU' T. ROBINSON Slmemcrs Gttomegs Feb. 24, 1953 R. E. KEsEL x-:TAL 2,629,563

Two-WAY FILM-METERING DEVICE ROBERT E .KESEL HERBERT T. ROBINSON hwentors (Ittomegs Feb. 24, 1953 R. E. KESEL ETAL 2,629,563

TWO-WAY FILM-METERING DEVICE Filed April 4, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 25 ROBERT E IGS SEL HERBERT T. ROBINSON nventors Patentecl Feb. 24, 1953 TWO-WAY FILM-METERING DEVICE Robert E. Kesel and Herbert T. Robinson, Rochester, N. Y., assignors to Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 4, 1951, Serial No. 219,211

7 Claims.

`This invention relates to roll-holding cameras, and particularly to roll-holding cameras of the type in which lm is extruded from one iilm chamber into another and then wound back onto the original spool, exposing the lm as it is rewound. One object of our invention is to provide a simple type of nlm-metering device by which the number of exposures can be accurately determined. Another-object of our invention is to provide a film-metering device which is automatically reset when film is extruded before making the various exposures. Another object of our invention is to provide a nlm-metering device which will be automatically retained in a predetermined position at each extreme of the winding movement, and which lwill be moved step-by-step in either direction as the film-extruding and film-winding movements take place. Other objects will appear from the following specification, the novel features being particularly pointed out in the claims at the end thereof.

In cameras of the extrusion-loading type, it is important Ito provide an accurate nlm-metering device, because iilm used in such cameras ordinarily does not have ,any backing paper, and the number of exposures must be determined entirely by means of a movable dial. Since it is also necessary to extrude film into a loose coil, usually before exposing, it is necessary to provide a means for moving the dial to an initial position and to hold the dial in that position a sufficient time to permit the complete unwinding or the com-plete winding up oaf the lm. Our present mechanism is particularly designed to overcome the usual difficulties with this type of metering mechanism, and to provide a metering mechanism which may require little, if any, attention by the operator.

Our present mechanism is particularly designed to advance film equal to an exposure area plus suitable spacing between exposures. The lm-metering control which is the subject of our copending application Serial No. 219,212, iiled April 4, 1951, deals in detail with the structure of the counter mechanism which is also shown in the present application in its proper relationship to the interlocking mechanism. We also have a copending application Serial No. 197,220 for Camera Shutter With Two successively Operated Blades, filed November 24, 1950, showing specic details of the shutter used herein.

Reference may also be had to the copending application Serial No. 214,959,- led March 10, 1951, in the name of Joseph Mihalyi, for details of an interconnecting mechanism between a spool Cil winding shaft and a winding knob which forms no part of the present invention but provides the means for winding and rewinding iilm in the present application.

`Coming now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts throughout,

Fig. 1 is -a perspective View of a typical camera which may be constructed in accordance with, and may embody, a preferred form of our invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of the camera mechanism removed from the camera and showing the camera shutter and associated parts;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan View of a portion of the nim-metering mechanism and its actuating pawl;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary part-section, part-elevation taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is `a fragmentary detai'l section taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary to-p plan view of the interlock mechanism showing the relationship of associated parts with parts being omitted for clearness. In this view, the camera has had the lm wound and the parts :are ready for an exposure to be made;

Fig. 'l is a side elevation, partly in section, through a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but with the parts in the position to which they may have been moved in winding the shutter, .but with the nlm winding only partially completed;

Fig. 9 is a top pl-an of a metering ratchet and its associa-ted cam;

Fig. l0 is aview similar to Fig. 6 but with the interlocking mechanism in a position through which the parts pass during the iilm-extruding operation;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line II--ll of Fig. 10 and showing, in addition, the Winding knob;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section taken through the counter dial and metering mechanism on line i12-I2 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is an exploded view showing the lm counting dial, the metering ratchet and the ratchet cam;

Fig. 14 is a top pllan View of a counter dial;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary detail perspective view of a part of the shutter mechanism and the shut- Iter setting and the slide stop releasing device.

Our invention comprises a nlm-'metering mechanismwhich preferably consists of a twoway ratchet having a notch in the periphery to turn a dial indicating the number of exposures past a window through which the graduations may be read. This two-way ratchet may include a hold-out mechanism for preventing a two-way pawl from operating the ratchet, and permitting film to be wound with the counter functioning.

This may be accomplished lby providing a twoway pawl with two operative ends, one adapted to drive the ratchet in one direction, and the other being adapted to drive the ratchet in an opposite direction until, in either case, the pawl merely idles in a cut-out in the ratchet. Our invention, therefore, permits anoperator to extrude a leader strip, a section of the film to be exposed, and a portion of a tail strip from one film spool chamber to another while positioning the exposure-counting dial, and then to permit the rewinding of the tail strip, the winding of each film to make an exposure and the winding of the leader strip, the movementof the tail strip and leaderV strip being accomplishedwhile the dial remains in a stationary position.

As indicated in Fig. 1, a typical camera may consist of a camera body I having a front wall 2 supporting an objective 3. The cameramay have curved end walls 4 and 5, the former enclosing a portion of a fllm spool receiving chamberA 6,.and the latter. enclosing a portion of a lm chamber 1 into which film may be extruded. These two lmchambers lie on opposite sides of an exposure frame 8 across which film lies duringan exposure.

A top wall 9 of the camera may support a film winding knob or key I passing down through the top wall andturning a .film spool shaft Il which supports film to be exposed. The winding key I0, Fig. 11, may include a cover 200 held on by screws 20| underneath which there is a spring washer 202; to frictionally engage a collar 203 on the film-winding shaft I I. There may also be ya. spring lwasher 204 pressing down on ratchet 51.from which the posts-55; extend downwardly into. the path ofy an armA 55 on slide 45 asvwill be hereinafter described. A bearing 205 in mechanism-.plate 40arevolubly supports the-Winding key shaft II. The winding knob I0, the shaft; IIand ratchet-'wheel 5-1 all turn together and may be referred to broadly as thewinding knob. The shaft II is polygonal in cross section, here triangular, to drivingly engage a complementary configuration ina film spool, all -as iswell known.

A trigger I2 may also be mounted on thetop wall9. of the camera, and preferably this wall carries a Window I3 through which a numeral |4-y on `an exposure-counter may he viewed. There is a view finder I5, preferably having a negative lens I6 in the front and a posiltive lens I1 in the rear, as shown in Fig. 10.

Referring to Fig. 2, the'camera may have a shutter of the same general type as shown in our application Serial No. 191,220, filed November 24, 1950, above referred to, in that an exposure aperture I8 in a front mechanism plate I9 may permit light to pass for an exposure when va cover blind 20 and a shutter blade 2| are moved in they following manner:

The shutter blade 2| normally lies over the exposure aperture |8, and it Vmay be operated by a spring 22 resting against a pin 23 and a lug 24|'on the shutter blade, thereby tending to holdv a pin, 24 in the end of` a slot 5. This pin24 may be engaged byra 1ug,.,26 on the cover. blind 20.

so that when this blind is moved in the direction shown by the arrow, lug 6 will strike and move the pin 24 and rotate the shutter blade 2| into a position in which the spring 22 is set and the shutter blade 2| is latched by means of a latch element 21 engaging a latch element 28 on the shutter blade. At the same time, a second latch element 29 carried by lever 30, pivoted at 3|, will engage a lug 31 on the cover blind 20. In the set. position, the spring 32 encircling the cover blind shaft33 and having one end 34 engaging a pin 35 while the other end 36 engages a pin 31 on the cover blind 20 will be Wound up and tensioned and the parts will be ready for an expcsure.

The shutter release I2 may operate a downwardly-extending plunger 38 to rock the release lever 4| and with it lever 30. As lever 30 rocks about its pivot 4| I, lug 4|2 carried thereby may engage and turn shoulder 4|3, moving lever 30 to release latch element 29 from 31sothat the coverblind 20 may turn underthe impulse-of its spring 32 until a lug 39 strikes and., moves a4 shoulder 40 carried'by the lever 30, at which= time further movement of lever 30 will take place so that latch element 21 may release latchv By disengaging latch element 2.1

element 28. from the trigger latch element 2B, the shutter blade 2| will rapidly close the aperture. Ill after it has been uncovered by the cover blind 20'. Quick opening and closingl movements are obtained. As thus far described, the shutter mechanism is quite similar tothat' shown inr the above-mentioned patent.

The method of setting the shutter and inter-r locking mechanism which will now be described, however, is new with this application.

We provide a slide 45 mounted to move on a mechanism plate 45 as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and.`

12. The mechanism plate may support lupstanding pins 41 andl which may pass through slots 49 and 50 in the slide 45 to control'the extent of the movement of this slide.

spring being somewhat heavier than a second spring 53 which may press on the upstanding pin 41 according to the position of the slide.

pins41, 5| and a stud 54 areall in substantial alignment. However, this position, isV never reached while theeslide is at rest.

ment by a shoulder 58 which lies in engagement. with a pivoted stop 59, which may consist of ay lever 50 pivoted at 6I toA the mechanism plate. Therefore, if an eifort be made toturn the winding knob I0 t0 wind film, this couldnot be ydone when in the Fig. 6 position.

If an effortshould be made to turn'the winding vknob I0 in a reverse direction, this also could not be done because of the pawl 631 pressed into engagement with the ratchet teeth64 by meansl This pawl may4 turn` of a suitable spring 65. about its pivot 66 and is providedwithahandle 61 extending througharear-wallof. the camera 68, Fig. l, and intovanqoperative position so that in extrudingf; the film; this .pawl l mayf be moved f The slidemay; be provided'with a pin 5|against which a springV 52 may press, according to its position, this` TheV tendency of these two springs is to :holdthe-pin, 5| -with therslide 45 in a'positionl in which the;

When the filml has been wound and the parts are in' a positionv in the direction shown by the arrow, Fig. 6, to the position shown in Fig. l0, wherein the knob l may be turned to move nlm from chamber 0 to chamber l. As above pointed out, Fig. 6 shows the parts ready for an exposure. The film cannot be wound. An operator may then press the trigger l2. rThis can be done because there is a curved notch 'i0 which lies in a position to permit a flange li to pass the slide 45 and, as the trigger i2 is depressed, the plunger 38, Fig. 2, will release the shutter as pointed out above. A spring HS, Fig. 4, pressing on collar "Hc, holds the trigger raised, but when the trigger l2 is depressed, plunger 38 strikes a flange 4| on lever 4|.

When this releasing movement takes place, an arm i2, carried by an upper angeii of the cover blade 20, moves an arm '14, Fig. 5, against a downwardly-extending post 15, carried by latch arm 60. This arm 14, therefore, moves the post 'l5 to the left with respect to Fig. 5 or toward the top of the drawing with respect to Fig. 6, releasing the latching lug 59 from the slide shoulder 58. When released, the slide may be moved when nlm is wound because pin 58 may move the shoulder 55 to the right with respect to Fig. 6, the continued movement causing the parts to reach the Fig. 8 position, in which position the shutter has been wound by means of the downwardly-extending lug l, carried by slide 45, striking the curved ange Ti of the cover blade 2G and moving it until the shutter is set.

Fig. S shows the position of the parts when the shutter is set, but movement of the winding knob i0 continues and pin 58 will, therefore, slip on? arm 55 of the slide 45, at which time the less powerful spring 52, pressing on pin 5|, will move the slide to the left, or almost as far as shown in Fig. 10, and toward a position in which the pins 4l, 5| and the stud 54 will lie in a straight line. It will be noticed that as soon as the slide 45 moves from its Fig. 6 position, it prevents the trigger I2 from being operated because a portion of the slide will lie beneath the flange il and, consequently, will not permit downward vertical movement of the trigger a sufficient distance to make an exposure. When the slide 45 moves under the impulse of spring 52, it will move so that the curved notch 'I0 lies to the left with respect to the Fig. l0 position of the trigger l2, and the trigger cannot be operated until the movement of the slide in a reverse direction occurs through contact of a pin 56 with the arm 55. On this second movement of the slide to the right with respect to Fig. 6, the shoulder 58 is again engaged by the latch element 59 so that not only is the slide 45 halted, but the movement of the winding key I0 is halted and the parts are again in a position for exposure.

We prefer to provide a signal in the finder I5 to indicate to an operator when the camera is in condition for exposure. As indicated in Fig. 10, the finder may consist of a front finder element I6 and a rear element and in between there is a hinged signal 18. This signal is preferably a colored filter, such as a red filter, and it consists of a sheet of material pivotally mounted at 18 to a stud 80, there being an arm 8| extending outwardly and into the path of a lever 82 pivoted at 83 to the mechanism plate. A spring 84 tends to turn this lever in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 10 to rotate the signal 18 from its operative position shown in Fig. l0 to an inoperative position as shown.

for instance, in Figs. 6 and 8. Lever 82 carries the downwardly-extending pin 15 which is used to coact with the cover blind 20 so that when an arm 'I4 on the cover blind lies in its normal rest position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 15, it will contact the pin 'I5 swinging a lever 82 in a clockwise direction towards the position shown in Fig. 10. In this position the latch element 50 has been removed from the latch element 58 carried by the slide 45. The slide is not latched and in Fig. 10 this is because the parts are in a filmextruding position. The position of the signal '18, of course, would indicate by a red glare in the finder that a picture should not be attempted.

The levers 60 and 82 are pressed toward each other by means of spring 81 encircling a stud 88 and having arms 85 and 86 so that these levers tend to remain in the relationship shown or pressed together as in Fig. 10. A second spring 88, resting on the stud 54 at one end and against a lug on the lever 82 at the other end, tends to swing both levers in a counterclockwise direction about their pivots so that the latch element 59 will be contacted with the slide 45. However, this movement is opposed by the pin 15, and the cover blade 20 in the Fig. 15 position will hold the pin so that both levers 60 and 82 lie out of contact with the slide 45.

While this signal is not essential, it is very useful so that an operator can tell in what position the various interlocking parts lie, particularly after the camera has not been used for some time.

We provide a counting mechanism which is unique in that this counter must work in two diierent directions in order to function properly-that is, in one direction while the lm is being extruded, and in a second direction when the film is being moved in a reverse direction while exposures are being made. Referring to Figs. 12 to 14 of the drawings, the counter may consist of a counter dial or disk |00, as shown in Fig. 14, bearing the scale |0| graduated into the desired number of units indicating exposures and numerals i4 at intervals if desired. This disk is perforated at |02 so that a pair of spaced pins |03, |03, as shown in Fig. 13, may pass through these perforations to turn the disk with the two-way ratchet wheel |04. The pins |03 extend upwardly from the ratchet through the apertures |02, as shown in Fig. 12, and a spring washer |05 preferably creates the desired friction between the counter disk |00 and the recessed wall |06 of the camera. The two-way ratchet |04 is provided with teeth or serrations |01 spaced equally apart, and at one area there is a recess or notch |08 of greater depth and width than the teeth |01. Below the ratchet |04 there is a cam |09 which may be integral with or which may be formed by a separate piece attached to the two-way ratchet |04.

In order to actuate this ratchet, there is a double-ended pawl H0, best shown in Fig. 10. This pawl has upstanding ends and |l2 and it is pressed against a pair of spaced pins ||3, I3 on the slide 45. Since the double-ended pawl |i0 is slotted at I i5 to receive a stud IIS, it may normally lie against the pins H3, ||3 because of the pressure of a spring which encircles the stud H8 and which has ends pressing the flanges and H2 in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 10.

Each time the slide 45 moves, a pawl-that is, either the upstanding flange i or the upstand-V ,ing flange |12, may engage a ratchet tooth |01.

asta-saar 7,. I'Eteferring to Fig'. 3, thel ratchet' ist operating to' turnathe' diskf Iil'on'elstepat'- a Atime infa clockwise direction'. Here a pawl member H2` is' shown engaging'avtooth". IIlTand,v asthe slide 45 1noves-tothe` lefti with reference toiFig. 10, the` doubleeendedpawl I I8 may be moved away from one of1 the pins` I I 3, sotha'tthe tooth engaging the middle of the iiange I^I2 may movethe-pawl front the tooth` at each back-and-forthf movementoif'the'slide L35. When the pawl I IZ-rea'chesVV thecut-out I68,.iurther 'movements of the slide l5.-willmerely cause tliefpawl. II2 to idle,rand

the counter disk Ifwill remain stationary because-the'toothed ratchet WheelIM will not bemoved. Thus, after'this movementof the-pawl II21inl the notch'or recess I; nlm may be wound-towind up thevtaillstrip withoutlockingthefilm as' occurs for each exposure.

Fig.- v shows the operation of the counterY during the'fiihn-extruding movements in which pawllI lf-opera'testhe ratchet wheel |84 as above described.' that the pins 56! engage the inside end ofY the armL 5550i theslide l5 and, consequently, move it-intermittently tothe left'with respect-to this gure. Ratchet'wheel IQLturns en astud its carriedby themechanism plate G5. When film is to be measured and returned to spool chamberA 6,-the operation of the winding key Ie turns the: ratchet. IEA: one stepY at ar time, ,but in an opposite' directionv and l through A the engagement ofipawl. I I Ilan'd the-opposite side of the vratchet teeth |01, but during this movement the'operation isthe samelinthat theratchet wheel le!! is imovecl a distance equal to vone tooth each time a Vpin'iiv moves:y the arm Eatomove the. slideY In this instance, it will be notedi l`aasuilicient distance iorthis action to takement, thecam |69 comes into play in that the' raisediportion II9`moves beneath the upturned arm |20 oiw the leveix when the ratchet Idf isfturned so that a pawl mayidle in the cut-out |08.'v rIhis prevents thelatching. lever fironi dropping' down' into latching. position 'with respect tolthe'latching lugl on :the slide i5 and, consequently, winding' can'y take'. place without this/slide.beingllatched Thus, the counterA disk I this always synchronized properly with respect to'. the' filml movementV in" either direction and, Whenthelm' is being moved for exposures by being returned to the windingflzey shaft Ii, the window I3? 'in'.the' topWall of.' the camera` can beused to tellwhich graduation' IiI or Illr is'in position and, consequently, how manyexposures have.v been' made.

From the` above specication and drawings, itwill .appear that We. have provided an interlocking and fcountingmechanism which are well adapted to carry out the various objects' of our invention',I and it is. obvious that structural changesrmay occur to those skilled in the art; We, therefore, wish it understood that the embodir'nents' disclosed herein are by way of illustrationvonly,v and are not -to-be used in a limit-- ing'sense When thev pawl IIIv reaches the notch HavingI thus described our:1nvention;-wnat.wef i claim isy new and. 'desire to secure by` Letters Patentof theUnitedi States' is :v'

1. A two-wayv film-metering device for rollholdingA` cameras of the extrusion-loading. type and includingv a camera body, a spool chamber to receive aroll-aof nlm, a knob and a key'post on which the roll of vfilm is placed, the camera body including an exposure frame and a second spool chamber into which llnmay be extruded,A said two-way nlm" metering device comprising a fcounter'dial, a ratchet Wheel carrying the' dial and mounted to4 turn' on' the camera bodyv and havingteeth'about themajor part of the periph-y ery of the ratchet and a notch in the periphery'v ofi the ratchet,a paw'l forY actuating theratchet,

a slide carrying thelpawl and-movable to move y the pawl for engaging andi-actuating the ratchetin either a-Iilm-winding or a-lm-extruding direction, a pinmovable bythe winding knob for!" moving the slidein one direction when thewinding knob is moved in' one direction and a spring'- normally moving the slide in an oppositedirection andvinto an intermediate position wherebyturning the winding knob may turn the counter' one step at a' time until the pawl reaches thenotch in the ratchet, after which the pawlinay idle in the notch'withou't moving the counten 2. The two-way lmemetering device forfroll film cameras dened inrclaim 1 characterized in that theA pawl includes a pair of'spaced ratchetengaging flanges, and a spring tending to engage nlm cameras defmedin claiml characterized in'A that the'pavvl includes a pair ofspa'ce'd ratchet-v engaging flanges, the pawl being mounted'on the" slide by a' pin and slot, and a' pair of spaced stop members limiting movement ofthe pawl on the slide, a spring' tending' to engage one spaced ratchet-engaging flange with the ratchet toactuate the ratchet in one'direction, and'means'op'er'- able by the' winding' knob' for shiftingthe" position of the slide forextrusion winding and' for nlm rewinding whereby the opposite spaced' ratchet-engaging'flange may operate theratchet.'

5. A two-way nlm-metering' devicefor rollholding cameras ofthe extrusionlloadng'type" and including a camera body, a spool'chamber" to receive a roll of lm, a knob and a key poston which the roll of film' is placed, the camera body including an exposure frame and a second spool chamber into which' film may be extruded, said two-way film-metering devicey comprising a counter dial, a ratchetwheel carrying the dial and mounted'to turn on the camera body and having teeth about the major part of theperiphery of the ratchet anda notch in the periphery ofthe ratchet,l a pawl for actuating the ratchet, a slide carrying the pawl .and movableto vmove the paWl for engaging and actuating the'ratchet in either a hlm-windingA or' aA lm-extruding di'-V rection, a pin movable by the' Winding knob' for movingxthe slide in one direction', a spring tend# ing-to -hold the slid'el nanintermedate position;

the knob moving the slide against spring pressure in one direction for extruding film and the knob moving the slide against spring pressure in an opposite direction for rewinding lm whereby the ratchet may be moved by the pawl in either of two directions according to the direction of movement of the Winding knob.

6. A two-way film-metering device for rollholding cameras of the extrusion-loading type and including a camera body, a spool chamber to receive a roll of i'ilm, a knob and a key post on which the roll of lm is placed, the camera body including an exposure frame and a second spool chamber into which film may be extruded, said two-way nlm-metering device comprising a counter dial, a ratchet wheel carrying the dial and mounted to turn on the camera body and having teeth about the major part of the periphery of the ratchet and a notch in the periphery of the ratchet, a pawl for actuating the ratchet, a slide carrying the pawl and movable to move the pawl for engaging and actuating the ratchet in either a film-Winding or a lm-extruding direction, a pin movable by the winding knob for moving the slide in one direction, a

spring tending to hold the slide in an intermeto receive a roll of lm, a knob and a key post on which the roll of lm is placed, the camera. body including an exposure frame and a second spool chamber into which film may be extruded, said two-way nlm-metering device comprising a counter dial, a ratchet wheel carrying the dial and mounted to turn on the camera body and having teeth about the major part of the periphery of the ratchet and a notch in the periphery of the ratchet, a pawl for actuating the ratchet, a slide carrying the pawl and movable to move the pawl for engaging and actuating the ratchet in either a nlm-Winding or a film-extruding direction, a pin movable by the Winding knob for moving the slide in one direction, a spring tending to hold the slide in an intermediate position, the knob moving the slide against spring pressure in one direction for extruding lm and the knob moving the slide against spring pressure in an opposite direction for rewinding lrn, the pawl comprising a double-ended lever rockably mounted on the slide and pressed toward a ratchet-engaging position by a spring, whereby one end of the pawl may be engaged with the ratchet when the slide is moved in one direction by the winding knob, the pawl turning the ratchet by the ratchet teeth and until the pawl drops into the notch, to ride idly therein.

ROBERT E. KESEL. HERBERT T. ROBINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,642,818 Lessler et al. Sept. 20, 1927 2,548,530 Harvey Apr. 10, 1951 

